On Tyranny: Is This What Democracy Looks Like?

Date/Time

Location

Description

Appalachian State University's Humanities Council will offer the following book discussions of selected topics from Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. This brief, accessible, and interdisciplinary volume is addressed not to Snyder's fellow historians, but to ordinary American citizens unaccustomed to thinking of our democracy as vulnerable to threats. On Tyranny focuses on the small ways that democracy is eroded and authoritarianism takes hold: through the degradation of language and meaning, the normalizing of incivility and violence, attacks on truth, and the erosion of institutions. Snyder's book is also a primer for opposing tyranny through everyday actions.

Each discussion session is limited to twenty participants (faculty, students, staff, and community members). Participants must preregister and agree to attend at least one session in order to receive a copy of the book.

To preregister, email lovens@appstate.edu and indicate 1)which session you will attend; 2)where to send your book.

In related events: Timothy Snyder will speak at the Humanities Council Symposium on Friday, September 29 at 2:30PM in the Blue Ridge Ballroom (Price Lake and Table Rock Rooms) of the PSU. In addition, the Smith Gallery in the Schaefer Center will feature an exhibit of dramatic and provocative posters based on Snyder's book. Watch for future announcements about the Humanities Council symposium and the Smith Gallery exhibition opening.